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Topic: Recommend a 3 or 4 day hike in Southern Colorado< Next Oldest | Next Newest >
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igorcarajo Search for posts by this member.

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PostIcon Posted on: Jan. 26 2013, 12:56 am  Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
I'd like to go on a 3- or 4-day hike in the San Juan National Forest. I'm not a hardcore hiker, and I'd prefer to stay under 12000 feet, and hopefully under the tree line most of the time. My previous hiking experience consists of a 30-mile, 3-day hike last summer in Mineral King (Sequoia National Park). Could somebody recommend some good hikes, or maybe a guidebook? The area that I had in mind is around Vallecito Reservoir, but I can be anywhere in the Southern part of Colorado. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
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PostIcon Posted on: Jan. 28 2013, 1:07 am Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Take a look at Donna Ikenberry's "Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas".
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PostIcon Posted on: Jan. 28 2013, 12:43 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Around Vallecito is easy.

Just head up the Pine River to Little Emerald and Emerald lake.  About 9 miles in and out with lots of day hike opportunities.

Ben

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PostIcon Posted on: Jan. 28 2013, 2:03 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
How about the South San Juan Wilderness

http://www.ouachitamaps.com/SSJ%20Wilderness.html

Or maybe wander around La Garita

http://www.ouachitamaps.com/La%20Garita.html

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PostIcon Posted on: Jan. 28 2013, 4:27 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Vallecito to Rock Lake is nice. Somewhere around 15-18 miles each way.

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PostIcon Posted on: Jan. 28 2013, 5:25 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Thanks for the replies so far. I am checking out the hike that a couple of people mentioned (Pine River-Emerald Lake-Moon Lake-Rock Lake), and it looks nice. Does anybody know if that area is crowded in the summer? Any other comments about that hike?
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PostIcon Posted on: Jan. 29 2013, 12:52 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Outside of Wildernesses and RMNP north of Denver the San Juans are Colorado's most "crowded" mountain range, but I wouldn't let that discourage you, you're zeroing in on an awesome area.

Persoanlly I think the East side of the Divide is the best with the Rio Grande National Forest being one of the most underated in the system. Of course it extends east of the South San Juan and La Garita across the San Luis Valley to my favorite part of the Centennial State, the spectacular Sangre de Cristo Range.

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PostIcon Posted on: Jan. 29 2013, 2:31 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic.  Ignore posts   QUOTE
The trip to Emerald Lake is fairly popular, especially with horse packers.  It is a relaitively easy hike and has good scenery.  The fish in the lake are huge, but finicky.  It is not my favorite due to the amount of mosquitos.

Around Vallecito you can just head up the Vallecito Creek trail as far as you want as well.

Staying under tree line limits your options some what.

Ben

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